Solar Irrigation empowers OA farmers in Davao City
by: Feliz Amanda C. Lim and Hannah Erika Estrada
Organic farmers in Davao City now enjoy a more sustainable and efficient water supply, reduced operational costs, and improved agricultural productivity — even during the dry months — thanks to a new Solar-Powered Irrigation System (SPIS).
The Saloy Organic Farmers Association (SOFA) in Calinan District and the Sibulan Organic Banana Growers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SOBAGROMCO) in Toril District were the beneficiaries of the SPIS, valued at P2.02 million. The project was spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture in the Davao Region through its Organic Agriculture Program, in collaboration with the Davao City Agriculture Office.
Equipped with six solar modules, each producing 555 watts, the system powers a 3.00-horsepower submersible pump capable of delivering a maximum flow of 5.2 cubic meters per hour — sufficient to irrigate up to three hectares of farmland.
SOFA has gained acclaim for consistently producing high-quality, flavorful cacao beans. In partnership with Auro Chocolate, the association recently earned a global silver award at the prestigious Cacao Excellence Awards held during the Amsterdam Cocoa and Chocolate Week in The Netherlands.
Meanwhile, SOBAGROMCO, based in Davao City’s first designated organic farming zone, specializes in organically grown bananas, which they export to the Japanese market.
The farmer groups expressed their gratitude for the project, highlighting that the new irrigation system will free them from relying solely on rainfall to begin planting.
“This is one of our strategic initiatives to expand organic agriculture across the Davao Region and help organic farmers — particularly those already recognized internationally — reach their full potential,” said Janice May Seraspe, alternate focal person of the Organic Agriculture Program. #OKsaOA